FIA confirms 21-race calendar, US GP in doubt

The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has confirmed a record 21-race calendar for 2016, though the United States Grand Prix is now provisional.

Austin's 2015 event was hindered by wet weather, leading to a loss in revenue and, while state funding was subsequently cut.

The Mexican Grand Prix has also been moved forwards by a week.

Updated F1 2016 calendar:

20 March - Australia

3 April - Bahrain

17 April - China

1 May - Russia

15 May - Spain

29 May - Monaco

12 June - Canada

19 June - Baku

3 July - Austria

10 July - Britain

24 July - Hungary

31 July - Germany

28 August - Belgium

4 September - Italy

18 Singapore - Singapore

2 October - Malaysia

9 October - Japan

23 October - United States

30 October - Mexico

13 November - Brazil

27 November - Abu Dhabi

The WMSC also announced further changes during its meeting on Wednesday.

It "approved, by a near unanimous number (just one vote against), a mandate for the FIA President, Jean Todt and the Representative of the Commercial Rights Holder, Bernie Ecclestone to make recommendations and decisions regarding a number of pressing issues in Formula 1 such as governance, Power Units and cost reduction," read a statement.

"Mr Todt and Mr Ecclestone expressed their intention to establish conclusions on these matters by 31 January, 2016."

The WMSC also tweaked the number of power unit development tokens available to manufacturers, with 32 permitted in 2016, 25 in 2017, 20 in 2018 and 15 in 2019.

"Any new Power Unit manufacturer will be allocated 15 tokens in their first year, and 32 in their second."

The WMSC additionally confirmed the proposal for Formula 1 teams to select two dry tyre compounds from three which will be available from Pirelli at each Grand Prix weekend.

The Virtual Safety Car will be permitted during practice sessions in order to reduce time lost in a stoppage, while DRS will be permitted immedately after the conclusion of a VSC period.

In the event of a Virtual Safety Car (VSC), DRS will now be re-enabled immediately after the VSC period.

Changes were also made to regulations regarding power units.

"Power units homologated in previous seasons may now be re-homologated," continued the statement.

"Previously no manufacturer could supply more than one specification of power unit."

It was also confirmed that Ferrari will power a fourth team in 2016, understood to be Toro Rosso.